Open heel shoe having a heel covering and method of making same



April 6, 1948. V NAIDQR 2,439,217

OPEN HEEL SHOE HAVING A HEEL COVERING AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed June 28, 1947 A ORNE Patented Apr. 6, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OPEN HEEL SHOE HAVING A HEEL COVER- ING AND METHOD OF MAKING SAlHE George Naidor, Gouldsboro, Pa. Application June 28, 1947, Serial No. 757,850

6 Claims. (Cl. 3619.5)

My present invention relates generally to shoes, and has particular reference to an improved construction and procedure relating to the heel region of the shoe.

A general object of the invention is to simplify the provision and application of a heelseat cover and of a heel cover in a shoe of the so-called DOrsay type in which the vamp terminates in the shank region of the shoe. A coordinate object is to provide an assembly of parts in which the heel-seat cover and the heel cover are of unusually neat appearance, firmly and tautly retained in position and of simplified and economical character.

The features of the invention are of particular utility in an article of footwear of the mule or sandal type in which there is no quarter in the heel region. However, certain phases of the invention are not necessarily restricted to shoes of this particular style.

Briefly stated, the advantages of the improved been attached to the rear end of the insole. The

enclosure is adapted to fit over and snugly envelop the heel and the rear end of the insole, and the completion of the shoe then involves nothing more than the application of an outsole which preferably underlies the covered heel.

I achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank defining the heel cover;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank defining the heel-seat cover;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of these two elements shown in united relationship;

Figure 4 is a, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the heel region of a shoe during one stage of manufacture;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view I taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 5; and

Figure '7 is a shoe.

perspective view of the finished To explain the features of the invention, I

. have chosen to illustrate it in connection with a sandal-type shoe of the character shown in Figure 7. This shoe is provided with a forwardly tapered heel l0, anoutsole II which is co-extensive in length withjthe shoe and underlies the heel, avamp [2 which terminates in the shank region of the shoe, and a strap l3 which extends rearwardly from the vamp and is adapted to engage around the foot of the wearer. In the heel region, the shoe illustrated is devoid of an upper or quarten. a

In. carrying out the present invention, I first cutor stamp out blanks or sheets [4 and [5, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. These sheets or elements may be composed of any suitable material such as woven or felted fabric, or its equivalent. The sheet [4 is of elongated character, having an edge I6which is preferably convex at the center, as shown, and an opposite edge I! whichis preferably provided with cut-outs or notches IS. The sheet l5 has substantially the shape of a heel-seat cover with a transverse front edge [9, side edges 20, and a convex or semi-circular rear edge 2 I. 1

Quite independently of the other shoe-assembling procedures, the two blanks or sheets of Figures 1 and 2 are stitched together as indicated in Figures 3 and 4. The edge [6 of the element [4 is laid along the side and rear edges 20 and 2| of the element l5, and stitched thereto by a row of stitches 22. The stitched edges are arranged wrong-side out, so that when the assembly of Figure 3 is turned into the disposition shown in Figures 5 and 6, the stitches 22 will be concealed.

In a separate procedure, the rear end of an insole 23 (of any suitable or desired thickness or material) is attached to a heel 24. The attachment may be achieved by means of nails or equivalent fasteners, or the parts may be held together by adhesive means. The heel 24 may be composed of any desired material, and may have any desired shape. The wedge-shaped heel shown in the present drawings is intended to be purely illustrative.

Preferably, the insole 23 is assembled in any suitable fashion with the vamp part of the upper prior to the application of the stitched assembly shown in Figure 3. However, the practice of the invention is entirely independent of the forward 3 part of the shoe, and, if desired, the completion of the shoe in its forward region may be subsequently efiected.

In either case, the unit shown in Figure 3 is turned inside out and is then applied from the rear into an enveloping or enclosing relation to the heel 24 and the rear end of the insole 23. It is held in position by adhesive preyiously applied 12.0 the enclosure, to the heel and insole, Q1 both. This associates the parts in the manner best illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The side and rear margins 25 (Figure 6) of the heel-seat cover I5" assume a turned-down disposition embracin the edge of the insole, and the stitched or upperedge of the heel cover M assumes the turned-in dis,- position shown. The notched edge or margin 1"! of the heel cover is then folded to lie beneath the heel 24, and may be adhesively secured in this position.

As a final step, the outsole I I is applied, preferably by adhesive means, and this firmly-engages and retains in position the lower inturned margin of the heel cover [-4.

In the finished shoe, the heel-seat cover lies flat and taut. The heel cover M also lies smoothly and neatly over the exposed side and rear surfaces of the heel.

For style purposes, it is obvious that theheelseat cover and the heel cover may be composed of contrasting materials, although is not essential. Moreover, if the shoe is of thekind: in which a quarter is to be employed, with or without reinforcement bya. counter, it is a, relatively simple matter to associate this quarter with the unitshown in Figure 3, prior to the applicationof this enclosure to the heel and insole as indicated in Figures 5 and 6. Theeconomies of the present invention 'maniiest themselves toJ-best advantage, however, when the shoe is' of the mule or sandal type shown; 7

In general, it will be understood that those skilled in the art-mayina number of respects make changes in the details herein described and illustrated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention-as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described and illustrated my in vention, what I claim as. new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a shoe, an insole, a heel attached to its rear end, and a pro-formed enclosure enveloping said heel and rear end, said enclosure comprising a sheet defining a heel-seat cover and having front, side, and rear edges, and a second sheet defining a heel cover and stitched along its upper edge to the side and rear edges of said firstnamed sheet.

2. Ina shoe, an insole, a heel attached to its rear end, and a pre-formed enclosure enveloping said heel and rear end, said enclosure comprising a'sheet defining a heel-seat cover and having front, side, and rear edges, said side and rear edgeshaving downturned margins adapted to embrace the edge of the insole, and a second sheet defining a heel cover and having an inturned upper edge stitched to said margins.

3. In a. shoe, an insole, a heel attached toits rear end, an outsole underlying said heel, and a pro-formed enclosure enveloping said heel and said rear end of the insole, said enclosure comprising a sheet. defining a heel-seat cover and having front, side, and rear edges, and a second sheet defining a heelcov-er ,andlstitched' alongits upper edge to. the side and rear edges of; said first-named sheet, sagi'dheel cover having its lower edge sandwiched between said heel and outsole.

4. An enclosure for the rear end of a sho ,.c0m-

prising a sheet defining. a heel-seat cover and a second sheet disposed at substantially right angles to said heel-scat cover. and havin an, edge thereof stitched wrong-side out to theside and rear edges of said heel-seat, cover.

5. In the manufacture of a shoe, the steps which consist in first forming an enclosure by stitching; a heel-seat cover along its side: and rear edges. to'the upper edge of a'heel cover, attaching a heel t0.- the rear end of, an, insole, and then applying said enclosure to the heel and insole.

6. In the manufacture of a shoe, the steps which consist in first forming an enclosure by stitchin wa. heel-seat cover along its side and rear edges tothe: upper edge of a heel cover, attaching a, heel to the rear end of an insole, applying said enclosure to the heel and insole and folding the lower edge of the heel cover beneath the heel, and

then applying-an outsole; to said heel; to hold said lower ed e; in position- GEORGE NAIDQR. 

